HALCYON KINGFISHER. 673 



from flexure S/r., tail 2 ; tarsus -^i, ; first toe ^^l, its claw f ^ ; 

 second toe I'l, its claw j% ; third toe j^j, its claw j% ; fourth 

 toe A, claw ^^ 



1 'J 



Female. — The female is somewhat smaller, but similar in 

 colour, the tints being only a little less bright. 



Variations. — In adults there are considerable differences, 

 not in the distribution, but in the tints of the colours. The 

 older the individuals are, the more bright is the green of the 

 upper parts, and the lighter the blue on the back, which thus 

 may be purplish blue, ultra-marine, smalt, or verditer. 



Habits. — The woods are resuming their green mantle, and 

 the little birds chanting their summer songs. From afar comes 

 the murmur of the waterfall, swelling and dying away at inter- 

 vals, as the air becomes still, or the warm breezes sweep along 

 the birchen thickets, and ruffle the bosom of the pebble-paved 

 pool, margined with alders and willows. On the flowery bank 

 of the stream, beside his hole, the water-rat nibbles the tender 

 blades ; and on that round white stone in the rapid is perched 

 the Dipper, ever welcome to the sight, with his dusky mantle 

 and snowy breast. Slowly along the pale blue sky sail the 

 white fleecy clouds ; as the lark, springing from the field, flut- 

 ters in ecstacy over his happy mate crouched upon her eggs 

 under the shade of the long grass, assured that no rambling 

 urchin shall invade her sanctuary. But see, perched on the 

 stump of a decayed willow jutting out from the bank, stands a 

 Kingfisher, still and silent and ever watchful. Let us creep a 

 little nearer, that we may observe him to more advantage. 

 Be cautious, for he is shy, and seeks not the admiration which 

 his beauty naturally excites. There he is, grasping the splint 

 with his tiny red feet, his bright blue back glistening in the 

 sunshine, his ruddy breast reflected from the pool beneath, his 

 long dagger-like bill pointed downwards, and his eye intent on 

 the minnows that swarm among the roots of the old tree 

 that project into the water from the crumbling bank. He 

 stoops, opens his wings a little, shoots downwards, plunges 



VOL. III. X X 



